CrossCheck Live: Campus Speech — A Right to Speak? A Duty to Listen? An Obligation to Learn?

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In recent years, both the left and the right have raised concerns about free speech, censorship, and academic freedom on college campuses. And media outlets—from the Atlantic to the New York Times to the Chronicle of Higher Education—have weighed in, offering a range of views on whether academic institutions are failing their core mission to facilitate the robust exchange of ideas while simultaneously providing a learning environment free of violence, intimidation, and harassment. The standard arguments are loud and well-rehearsed, but they obscure real tensions—between liberty and equality, between legality and propriety, between the right to speak and the right to learn, and between safe spaces and brave spaces. And our unwillingness or incapacity to address these genuine tensions seriously, without soundbites or cheap shots, have made difficult the wise governance of the University.

A reasoned debate from multiple perspectives is sorely needed. Thus the UCLA Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion offers the Fall’s CrossCheck Live:

CrossCheck LiveCampus Speech: A Right to Speak?
A Duty to Listen? An Obligation to Learn?

Please join us and our distinguished panelists for a stimulating discussion as we navigate the complexities of free speech and institutional governance, and ponder the best route forward for college campuses and beyond. Other panelists and commentators to be announced.

Moderators:

Jerry Kang, Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Professor of Law and Asian American Studies, and Korea Times Hankook Ilbo Endowed Chair, UCLA

Devon Carbado, Associate Vice Chancellor for BruinX – Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; Harry Pregerson Professor of Law, UCLA School of Law